66. THE ISRAEL OF GOD

66. WHO ARE THE ISRAEL OF GOD?

2:9. Blaspheme: “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but [are] the synagogue of satan.”

Another way to claim to be a Jew is to claim the title of Israel, for up to the time of the New Testament writings, the terms Israel and Jewish were synonyms. The term Jew had lost its exclusive reference to descent from the tribe of Judah and had taken on the meaning of "those who follow the religion of Judaism." In other words, all Israel at that time could be called Jewry, Luke 23:5; John 7:1 KJV.

However, there were two opposing factions claiming the title of Israel, there was the "Israel according to the Flesh," (1Corinthians 10:18), and the "Israel of God," (Galatians 6:6).  The "Israel according to the Flesh" were those who reckoned themselves as heirs of Abraham merely through fleshly descent. The "Israel of God" were those who followed the faith of Abraham by accepting Christ, whatever their fleshly lineage. These two Israels are clearly distinguished in Romans 9:6-8:

Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they [are] not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, [are they] all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these [are] not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

Clearly, being of fleshly descent did not qualify for the title Israel because:

Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved, (Romans 9:27).

The fleshly seed did not obtain the promise, only the remnant chosen by grace:

Romans 11:5-7: Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. 7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

The Israel that had not obtained were those of mere fleshly descent; they had been blinded. The Israel that had obtained was the Elect, (or Election), those who had accepted the faith of Abraham through faith in Christ, whatever their fleshly lineage.

But to Israel (of the Flesh) he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people, (Romans 10:21).

Those who refused to accept Christ, the true Heir, were "cut off," (Luke 3:9; John 15:1-6; Romans 11:17).  They were no more a people of God. Those who have not accepted Christ's circumcision of the heart and His position as The Heir of the promises are not Israel. It is therefore blasphemy to call them Israel.

Galatians 6:15-16 RSV: "For neither circumcision accounts for anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God."

This passage defines the "Israel of God" as the new creation in Christ. Psalm 73:1 also defines Israel: "Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart." The true Israel are those who are pure in heart.

Claiming the title Jew or Israel is to claim descent from Abraham. Jesus clearly taught that mere fleshly descent from Abraham did not qualify one as an heir. (See John 8:31-34 and Galatians 3:16-29.) “And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise,” (Galatians 3:29).

Note the word if. This indicates a conditional clause: "If ye be Christ's, then ye are Abraham's seed." The clear implication is that if you are not Christ's, then you are not Abraham's seed. Those who claim to be Abraham's seed and who are not in Christ are lying and blaspheming.

John the Baptist also taught this same doctrine:

Matthew 3:9-10: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

It is important to realize that the name Israel includes the name of God: Israel means "Prince of God" or "Righteousness of God." Many Scriptures show that the people called Israel were those "called by His Name:" Deuteronomy 28:10; 2Chronicles 7:14; Isaiah 43:1, 7; 45:3-4; Jeremiah 14:9; Daniel 9:19; Hosea 1:10. Those "called by His Name" are His children, as a man gives his name to his children today. It is therefore Christians who are to be called by the name of God: 1John 3:1; James 2:7. Indeed, it is Christ Who is “The Prince of God” and Who is the “Righteousness of God.” 

God is very jealous for His Name: Ezekiel 39:25. The essence of the sin of blasphemy is to speak lightly or carelessly of God, and was punishable by death, (Leviticus 24:16). It is also a transgression of the third commandment: "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain," (Exodus 20:7).  In vain means “without purpose, foolishly, fruitlessly, idly, without just cause, groundlessly.” Those who are not in Christ have no Biblical grounds for calling themselves by the name of the Lord.[i]

A synonym of the word blaspheme is profane, which was the original sin of satan himself, Ezekiel 28:7, 16, 18.

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[i] Babel means confusion of tongues. “We must rescue the language,” Riva Zacharias.
  This lesson is an edited excerpt from my book Revelation In Context. My Book is available at the Living Word Bookstore in Shawnee, Oklahoma and is also available online at www.amazon.com  or www.xulonpress.com. Free downloads are available at www.revelationincontext.sermon.net